Newbury firefighters recently participated in a multi-jurisdictional training session designed to help them better respond to environmental spills.
Two dozen firefighters from four departments – Newburyport, Newbury, Rowley and Salisbury – and representatives of the Newburyport Harbormaster Department attended classes on Tuesday, May 11 in Newburyport.
At the North End Boat Club, first responders learned the basic theory of containing an oil spill and practiced with spill containment equipment.
At Cashman Park, the group participated in a drill simulating a chemical spill on the Merrimack River. The drill tested the ability to deploy spill equipment, and reinforced effective communication among multiple responding agencies.
About 50 pounds of peat moss was dumped in the Merrimack River to simulate a quick-moving chemical spill. Firefighters from Newbury and Rowley coordinated equipment deployment from the shore, while firefighters in boats from Newburyport and Salisbury tactically positioned inflatable containment booms.
The state, through the Department of Environmental Protection’s Marine Oil Spill Prevention and Response Program, has provided all 83 coastal communities with a trailer equipped with tools – inflatable booms, rebars, buoys, markers and absorbent pads – that would be used during an environmental response.
Moran Environmental Recovery is contracted by DEP to provide trailers and equipment. Training was provided by MER and Nuka Research and Planning Group.